Goof
Five hours. Five long hours is how long Silvy has been in labor. For the first three hours, I had to watch my girl in pain and the was nothing I could do about it but hold her hand. As she headed into hour four the pain was too much and Silvy got an epidural. I held her as the doctor put a needle in her back. We had gone over it in birthing class and I knew it was one of Silvy’s wishes but it wasn’t easy to watch. I chose to lean my head down by Silvy’s ear and whisper words of encouragement instead. When the doctor was done Silvy was able to get some rest. DR. Ross our obstetrician said Silvy was going to need her strength for the next part. The delivery itself.
When Silvy fell asleep Gena came in and told me the waiting room was filling up. Tony watched over Silvy while I went out there to give an update. When I got out there Meathead was waiting with Viper, Lilly, Tank, and Axel. I gave them a quick overview of what was going on so far which was pretty much waiting for the baby to make its entrance into the world. I did promise to inform them as soon as something happened. Lilly, Tank, and Viper decided to hang around and will call in updates for the others. Viper told me to just text updates to him or send Tony out with them. He was to stay by Silvy’s side where he belonged. That was fine by me. I didn’t want to leave Silvy’s side even though she was sleeping.
Hour six into Silvy’s labor she had told Gena that she felt pressure in her lower stomach. Because of the epidural, she can’t feel the contractions. Gena rushed out and got the doctor. I helped Silvy sit up. “ How are you doing princess? Can I get you anything?” Tony asked. “ I’m fine. But I could use some ice chips.” Silvy said. Tony got up from his chair to get what Silvy asked for just as the doctor came in. He stood at the end of Silvy’s bed. “ I hear you are feeling the pressure, Silvy. Let’s get you checked out.” Dr. Ross said. The doctor sat on his rolling stool at the end of the bed and examined Silvy. After a couple of minutes, the doctor sat back with a smile on his face. “ You are ready Silvy. Let’s get this baby born.” Dr. Ross said. Silvy turns to me and smiles while the doctor and nurses get things ready. “ We are about to be parents. Can you believe it?” Silvy says. I kiss her forehead and tell her “ Yeah, babe. I can and I’m more than ready.” The doctor and Gena help Silvy get in the stirrups. As previously discussed I get behind Silvy to help her sit up so she can brace herself. I have my legs on the sides of her and my hands on her shoulders. I will leave them there until she needs me.
“ Okay, Silvy when I tell you I want you to push with everything you have.” Dr.Ross said. Dr. Ross and Gena watched the baby monitor and when it spiked. “ Silvy, it is time. Push.” Silvy say up, grabbed my hands, and bared down. Silvy pushes for a minute before she can rest. We go like this for forty-five minutes. Silvy pants and grips my hands like no tomorrow. I feel like she is going to break some fingers with how hard she holds my hands. I forgot how strong Silvy is. I don’t care though. She is bringing our child into this world, she can break my entire hand if she has to. I whisper encouraging words each time Silvy pushes.
I can see she is getting tired. This is taking everything out of her. But I know Silvy, she won’t give up until our baby is here in our arms. “ Silvy, I see the head. You are doing great. The next contraction I need you to push a little harder.” Dr. Ross says. The next contraction hits, and Silvy crushes my hands in hers and pushes. Gena is counting for Silvy. " Keep going. The head is almost out. Push. Push." Ross says from between Silvy's legs. Suddenly Ross shouts " Silvy stop pushing right now." " But I need to." Silvy grunts. " Silvy the cord is around the baby's neck. I need you to stop so I can remove it. I know it is hard. Just breathe." Ross told Silvy in a calm voice. How the hell can he be calm? Silvy looks up and this is the first time I have seen worry on her face. She is a nurse and knows the drill but now she is scared. She needs me to get my shit together and be there for her. " Michael?" she whimpers. I kiss her forehead.
" Ross has this. Just listen to him. Breathe with me." I told her in support. I see Ross moving his hands to remove the cord. " I got the cord removed. It is safe to push again. Once the shoulders are out the rest will follow. Now push." Ross encouraged. Silvy bore down again and the next thing we know we hear a cry. "Ross stands up with our very pissed-of baby in his hands. He places the baby on Silvy's chest and it calms down immediately. " Congratulations you two. You have a boy." Ross said. Silvy rubs the little guy's back " Hi buddy. I'm your mommy. The guy behind me is your dad." Silvy looks up at me with a watery smile. " Look what we did Michael. He is perfect," she said. " He is. Just like his mom." I agreed. " Goof, do you want to cut the cord?" Ross asks. I carefully slide out from behind Silvy and stand beside Gena after she hands me a pair of surgical scissors. Ross points to the clamps on the umbilical cord and tells me to cut between them.
Once I cut our son is officially free of Silvy. Gena reaches for the baby " I'm going to take him to the nursery and get him cleaned up. I'll bring him right back." " Gena, there are other nurses that can do that. Your shift has long been over." Silvy said. " I'm taking my grandson to the nursery to give him his bath. You rest." Gena said. Yeah, we aren't going to win that argument. " What is his name?" Tony asks as Gena walks by to give him a peak. I sit beside Silvy and she looks up at me for confirmation. I give her a nod. We had a name picked out for a boy and a girl just kept it a secret until the birth. " Dad, meet your grandson, Anthony Xavier Alford," Silvy said. Yes, we named our son after her dad and little brother. I didn't need a junior. "Princess?" Tony asked. " Yes, Dad. After Goof and our son you and Xavier are some of the best men I know." Silvy told him. When we bounced around boy names the first name was easy.
Naming our son after Tony, the man who raised Silvy as a single father was a no-brainer. It was the middle name we had a problem with. We wanted another n same of some of the good men in our lives. We discovered the list was long. Silvy brought up Tank. I suggested Viper. Then there was Meathead since he had gotten close to Silvy as her bodyguard. It was the talk I had with Xavier at the wedding that made me put his name into the ring. Silvy loved it. " Oh, Xavier is going to love that. I can't wait to tell him." Gena said. Silvy asked to wait and let us tell him when he came up to meet the baby. Gena took Anthony off to get a bath and measured. The other nurse Mary helped Silvy get changed and cleaned up. Tony and I went to the now-packed waiting room to see my brothers. Tank and Lilly were standing in front of everyone eagerly waiting. " We have a boy," I announced.